Well, that happened quickly, with old Viktor Gyokeres, didn’t it?

Were used to signings being dragged out. We normally expect there to be an element of wait and delay as Arsenal pick the right moment, usually do all the pictures and videos, then it takes a day or two, then BAM! We’re hit with the announcement. But after getting the confirmation on Friday that he’d been given approval to travel to London, after the medical was scheduled for Saturday and on Friday evening pictures emerged of him getting off a private plane, we got last night the announcement we’d all been waiting for:

Viktor Gyokeres has signed for The Arsenal.

It is done. Sporting have relented and I suspect I am not alone in hoping we don’t go back to them again for any of their players, because that president is a pain in the arse.

Sporting and Chelsea – can we just not from now on?

But it’s over, the striker is signed and despite there being a bit of handwringing from some Arsenal fans over the likes of Isak or Sesko (me too on the latter by the way as he was my preferred choice, not so much on Isak because of the money and the injury record), I think most Arsenal fans – if not all – are happy to get this one over the line and see what big Vik can do.

He’s strong, he’s fast, he’s powerful, he’ll run all day and he knows where the goal is. One of the biggest challenges with any new player joining The Arsenal from overseas is the physicality of the league. The Prem is about power and pace and you can’t have somebody who is getting boshed off the ball in your attacking line. Sure, he has flaws, which I’m sure you’ve also already read about like me with things like his heading, etc, but the key fundamentals of his game seem well suited for the Premier League.

He won’t get the same time as he does in Portugal, he’ll certainly have more shots saved from goalies in our country (I’ve seen his goal compilations and there are some in there I just don’t think he gets against Premier League ‘keepers), but he knows where the goal is and I guess a bit like Madueke, he’s going to try to have a pop. We’ve needed that for some time to be fair. We all lamented our lack of unpredictability but what the club have done this summer is, I think, commendable because I think we’ve set ourselves up well to be competitive this season.

He’s also clearly got some cajones and really backs himself, because he’s selected that iconic number 14 as his number. He will be very aware of its significance and with the last person to wear 14 being Aubameyang, he’ll know that goals is what that number demands and us Arsenal fans will be desperate to see him deliver those in abundance in red and white.

I’ve also read some positive noises about how he was desperate for that Sporting move and really pushed for it from Coventry. Clearly he is a strong-willed man and having read all of the noises about how much he pushed for this Arsenal move, we can only feel positive about a guy who is desperate to play in the shirt. Lovely stuff.

There’s one question that we all have about upgrading that left hand side and sure, I’m with you that we could certainly do that if perhaps there was a buyer for Trossard and we pulled the trigger on Eze, but even if that deal doesn’t happen I have to say I’m in a good place with where Arsenal are at right now.

Wide rotation forward ✅

Striker ✅

Central defender rotation option ✅

Upgrade on Partey ✅

Upgrade on Jorginho ✅

Upgrade back up ‘keeper ✅

That’s a heck of a lot of work done before we hit August. There’s more to do – we need Sara and Saliba to put pen to paper and we probably need to bank at least £50million in sales before the window slams shut – but for where my head is at this morning I feel like there’s a good balance about this squad and we look like we’re ready to be competitive with a better team than we had last season.

And so now all focus needs to shift to that. We need to get the group together, get matches under their belt for pre season and now the hard work with his squad (practically) all assembled is what will be Arteta’s focus. An Eze-shaped signing will be a cherry on a cake for sure, but I think we’re good enough to compete and I’m really excited to see how we line up come that first game against Man United.

Before then – and today – we have a few friendlies to get through and that includes Newcastle this lunchtime UK time. I’m still in Cologne having a mini break seeing family so I won’t be watching the game, but hopefully we see more positive football from the players and we have some good stuff to talk about tomorrow.

Catch you then.